[TheForge] uri hammer

[Mike Linn]

I picked up one of the Czech hammer heads from Steve Kayne back an Madison. 
I make a handle similar to the ones Tom makes. I really like this hammer 
but for me I'd like the same shape in a 900g - 1kg weight. The thing I like 
is the lower center of gravity. I like a square faced hammer because I can 
direct the metal just by changing the angle of the face to the stock. A 
lower center of gravity keeps the hammer from twisting over. Mass x Length 
=  torque. (that's why you use short tools under a treadle hammer)

To me the best way to learn hammer control is to pretend your a power 
hammer. A power hammer hits in the same place every time and you work the 
piece under the hammer. If your chasing the work piece all over the place 
your not efficient and your constantly having to adjust your striking to a 
new position.

For drawing out and general forging,  I teach .. pick a spot on the ANVIL 
and strive to strike that location every time. Move the piece under the 
hammer. Once you can do that consistently, then you can start changing the 
angle of the face of the hammer to make the material move in the direction 
you wish. A round faced hammer tends to move material 180 degrees around 
the point of impact,  a square face can direct the metal much better 
(IMHO). If during the making of a leaf for example, I need to push more 
material in to the upper left quadrant, I'll lower the handle below the 
face of the anvil and using the lower right corner of the hammer, drive the 
material in that direction. Note, I still strike straight down, at the same 
spot on the anvil, but because I changed the hammers angle the material 
moves in a particular direction.

I also prefer flat sides to my handles. This allows me to know the position 
of the hammer face by its feel in my hand as Im swinging, you cant do that 
with round handles. I've taken newbies with their new shiny hammers, had 
them close their eyes, I place the hammer handle in their hand, and the ask 
them which way the face is pointing... they get the point real quick.

I use the edges, corners, face, pein, and even the sides of my hammer on 
occasion. Regardless of type, style, shape, handle, weight or length a 
useable forging hammer must be dressed properly. I thought my wife was 
gonna have a stroke when I took my brand new hammer to the belt grinder...

There is no "Right Way" ...its what works for you and gives you the results 
your looking for.

mike



At 08:44 AM 11/4/2005, you wrote:

>Also, side issue, the Czech pattern hammer has the side of the wood sanded
>down so that the sides are flat.  Other than feeling different, I can't
>prove it, but I suspect that the flat sides provide a bit more control than
>the oval shape of my standard cross peen.  How do others feel about this?
>
>
>Grover,
>I put friction tape on alot of my handles.  I can definately control a 
>hammer with a slimmer (rounded rectangular) shaped handle much better than 
>others.  One of the demonstrators at Gichners last year used ice hockey 
>sticks for handles.
>
>Regards,
>Bill Woolley
>
>
>
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            Mike Linn
      Artist Blacksmith
          McCalla, AL
        AFC Webmaster
http://afc.abana-chapter.com

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"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how
   close they were to success when they gave up. "
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